# Understanding the Primacy Certainty Act of 2025

This bill is about speeding up the federal government's approval process for states that want to manage their own underground injection control programs, specifically for something called "Class VI wells." Class VI wells are deep injection wells used primarily for carbon dioxide storage and sequestration—a technology that some see as important for addressing climate change. Right now, when states apply to take over this responsibility from the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the approval process can drag on indefinitely, leaving states and companies uncertain about whether their projects can move forward.

The bill sets clear deadlines to end this uncertainty. States must get a decision within 90 days of submitting their application, and if the EPA hasn't made a decision within 180 days, it must send the state a detailed written explanation of what's holding things up and exactly what's missing from their application. Here's the key part: if the EPA still hasn't approved or rejected the application 30 days after that 180-day mark, the application is automatically approved—but only if the state already has experience managing other types of injection wells. This automatic approval provision is designed to prevent the EPA from indefinitely stalling applications. The bill also requires the EPA to assign one specific person at each state to coordinate the entire process, making it easier for states to know who to contact and reducing bureaucratic confusion.

The bill affects states interested in developing carbon dioxide storage projects and the companies working on these projects. For states, it provides certainty about timelines and removes the risk of applications getting stuck in federal limbo. For companies investing in carbon capture and storage technology, it means they can plan projects with more confidence about when they'll get approval. The bill also requires the EPA to report to Congress within 90 days about whether it has enough staff and funding to handle these faster timelines, acknowledging that speeding up the process requires resources.